Aua manejo y diagnostico calculo ureteral

Chapter 1: The Management of Ureteral Calculi: Diagnosis and

Treatment Recommendations

Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 3

Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 4

Results of the Outcomes Analysis ................................................................................................ 12

Observation and Medical Therapies ......................................................................................... 12

Shock-wave Lithotripsy and Ureteroscopy............................................................................... 13

Efficacy Outcomes.................................................................................................................... 15

Procedure Counts...................................................................................................................... 22

Complications ........................................................................................................................... 27

Other Surgical Interventions..................................................................................................... 30

The Index Patient .......................................................................................................................... 30

Treatment Guidelines for the Index Patient .................................................................................. 31

For All Index Patients ............................................................................................................... 31

For Ureteral Stones <10 mm..................................................................................................... 31

For Ureteral Stones >10 mm..................................................................................................... 33

For Patients Requiring Stone Removal..................................................................................... 34

Recommendations for the Pediatric Patient.............................................................................. 36

Recommendations for the Nonindex Patient ............................................................................ 37

Discussion ..................................................................................................................................... 37

Medical Expulsive Therapy ...................................................................................................... 38

Shock-wave Lithotripsy............................................................................................................ 39

Copyright © 2007 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.® and 1
European Association of Urology®

Ureteroscopy............................................................................................................................. 42

Percutaneous Antegrade Ureteroscopy..................................................................................... 44

Laparoscopic and Open Stone Surgery..................................................................................... 45

Special Considerations.............................................................................................................. 46

Pregnancy ................................................................................................................. 46

Pediatrics .................................................................................................................. 47

Cystine Stones ........................................................................................................... 48

Uric acid Stones ........................................................................................................ 49

Research and Future Directions .................................................................................................... 49


Introduction
The American Urological Association (AUA) Nephrolithiasis Clinical Guideline

Panel was established in 1991. Since that time, the Panel has developed three guidelines

on the management of nephrolithiasis, the most recent being a 2005 update of the original

1994 Report on the Management of Staghorn Calculi.1 The European Association of

Urology (EAU) began their nephrolithiasis guideline project in 2000, yielding the

publication of Guidelines on Urolithiasis, with updates in 2001 and 2006.2 While both

documents provide useful recommendations on the management of ureteral calculi,

changes in shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) technology, endoscope design, intracorporeal

lithotripsy techniques, and laparoscopic expertise have burgeoned over the past five to

ten years.

Under the sage leadership of the late Dr. Joseph W. Segura, the AUA Practice

Guidelines Committee suggested to both the AUA and the EAU that they join efforts in

developing the first set of internationally endorsed guidelines focusing on the changes

introduced in ureteral stone management over the last decade. We therefore dedicate this

report to the memory of Dr. Joseph W. Segura whose vision, integrity, and perseverance

led to the establishment of the first international guideline project.

This joint EAU/AUA Nephrolithiasis Guideline Panel (hereinafter the Panel)

performed a systematic review of the English language literature published since 1997

and a comprehensively analyzed outcomes data from the identified studies.

Based on their findings, the Panel concluded that when removal becomes

necessary, SWL and ureteroscopy (URS) remain the two primary treatment modalities for


the management of symptomatic ureteral calculi. Other treatments were reviewed,

including medical expulsive therapy (MET) to facilitate spontaneous stone passage,

percutaneous antegrade ureteroscopy, and laparoscopic and open surgical

ureterolithotomy. In concurrence with the previously published guidelines of both

organizations, open stone surgery is still considered a secondary treatment option. Blind

basketing of ureteral calculi is not recommended. In addition, the Panel was able to

provide some guidance regarding the management of pediatric patients with ureteral

calculi. The Panel recognizes that some of the treatment modalities or procedures

recommended in this document require access to modern equipment or presupposes a

level of training and expertise not available to practitioners in many clinical centers.

Those situations may require physicians and patients to resort to treatment alternatives.

This article will be published simultaneously in European Urology and The

Journal of Urology. The Panel believes that future collaboration between the EAU and

the AUA will serve to establish other internationally approved guidelines, offering

physician and patient guidance worldwide.

Methodology
The Panel initially discussed the scope of the guideline and the methodology,

which would be similar to that used in developing the previous AUA guideline. All

treatments commonly employed in the United States and/or Europe were included in this

report except for those that were explicitly excluded in the previous guideline or newer

treatments for which insufficient literature existed. In the analysis, patient data were

stratified by age (adult versus child), stone size, stone location, and stone composition.


Later, however, the data were found to be insufficient to allow analysis by composition.

The outcomes deemed by the Panel to be of particular interest to the patient included the

following: stone-free rate, number of procedures performed, stone-passage rate or

probability of spontaneous passage, and complications of treatment. The Panel did not

examine economic effects, including treatment costs.

Outcomes were stratified by stone location (proximal, mid, and distal ureter) and

by stone size (dichotomized as ≤10 mm and >10 mm for surgical interventions, and ≤5

mm and >5 mm for medical interventions and observation where possible; exceptions

were made when data were reported, for example as <10 mm and ≥10 mm). The mid

ureter is the part of the ureter that overlies the bony pelvis, i.e., the position of the ureter

that corresponds to the sacroiliac joint; the proximal ureter is above and the distal ureter

is below. Treatments were divided into three broad groups:

1. Observation and medical therapy

2. Shock-wave lithotripsy and ureteroscopy

3. Open surgery, laparoscopic stone removal, or percutaneous antegrade

ureteroscopy.

The review of the evidence began with a literature search and data extraction.

Articles were selected from a database of papers derived from MEDLINE searches

dealing with all forms of urinary tract stones. This database was maintained by a Panel

chair. The abstract of each paper was independently reviewed by an American and a

European Panel member, and articles were selected for data extraction if any panel

member felt it might have useful data. Additional articles were suggested by Panel

members or found as references in review articles. In total, 348 citations entered the


extraction process. An American and a European Panel member each independently

extracted data from each article onto a standardized form. The team members reconciled

the extractions, and the data were entered into a Microsoft Access® (Microsoft,

Redmond, WA) database. The Panel scrutinized the entries, reconciled the

inconsistencies in recording, corrected the extraction errors, and excluded some articles

from further analysis for the following reasons:

1. The article was included in the previous guideline.

2. The article did not provide usable data on the outcomes of interest.

3. Results for patients with ureteral stones could not be separated from results for

those with renal stones.

4. The treatments used were not current or were not the focus of the analysis.

5. The article was a review article of data reported elsewhere.

6. The article dealt only with salvage therapy.

A total of 244 of the 348 articles initially selected had extractable data. Articles

excluded from evidence combination remained candidates for discussion in the text of the

guideline.

The goal was to generate outcomes tables comparing estimates of outcomes

across treatment modalities. To generate an outcomes table, estimates of the probabilities

and/or magnitudes of the outcomes are required for each intervention. Ideally, these are

derived from a synthesis or combination of the evidence. Such a combination can be

performed in a variety of ways depending on the nature and quality of the evidence. For

this report, the Panel elected to use the Confidence Profile Method3, which provides


methods for analyzing data from studies that are not randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The Fast*Pro computer software4 was used in the analysis. This program provides

posterior distributions from meta-analyses from which the median can be used as a best

estimate, and the central 95% of the distribution serves as a confidence interval (CI).

Statistical significance at the p<0.05 level (two-tailed) was inferred when zero was not

included in the CI.

Because of the paucity of controlled trials found on literature review, however,

the outcome for each intervention was estimated by combining single arms from various

clinical series. These clinical series frequently had very different outcomes, likely due to

a combination of site-to-site variations in patient populations, in the performance of the

intervention, in the skill of those performing the intervention, and different methods of

determining stone-free status. Given these differences, a random-effects, or hierarchical,

model was used to combine the studies.

Evidence from the studies meeting the inclusion criteria and reporting a given

outcome was combined within each treatment modality. Graphs showing the results for

each modality were developed to demonstrate similarities and differences between

treatments.

The available data for procedures per patient would not permit a statistical

analysis using these techniques. Unlike the binary outcome of stone-free status (the

patient either is or is not stone free), the number of procedures per patient is a discrete

rate. In some cases discrete rates can be approximated with a continuous rate, but in order

to meta-analyze continuous rates, a measure of variance (e.g., standard deviation,

standard error) is needed in addition to the mean. Unfortunately, measures of variance


were rarely reported in the studies reviewed. As a result, numbers of procedures per

patient were evaluated by calculating the average across studies weighted by the number

of patients in each study. Procedures per patient were counted in three totals: primary

procedures, secondary procedures, and adjunctive procedures. Primary procedures were

all consecutive procedures of the same type aimed at removing the stone. Secondary

procedures were all other procedures used to remove the stone. Adjunctive procedures

were defined as additional procedures that do not involve active stone removal. One

difficulty in estimating the total number of procedures per patient is that secondary and

adjunctive procedures were not reported consistently. Since the Panel had decided to

analyze primary, secondary, and adjunctive procedures separately, only studies that

specifically reported data on a type of procedure were included in estimates for that

procedure type. This approach may have overestimated numbers of secondary and

adjunctive procedures because some articles may not have reported that procedures were

not performed.

It is important to note that, for certain outcomes, more data were reported for one

or another treatment modality. While resulting CIs reflect available data, the probabilities

for certain outcomes can vary widely within one treatment modality. In addition, the fact

that data from only a few RCTs could be evaluated may have somewhat biased results.

For example, differences in patient selection may have had more weight in analyses than

differing treatment effects. Nevertheless, the results obtained reflect the best outcome

estimates presently available.

Studies that reported numbers of patients who were stone free after primary

procedures were included in the stone-free analysis. Studies that reported only the


combined number of patients who either were stone free or had “clinically insignificant

fragments” were excluded. Many studies did not indicate how or when stone-free status

was determined. The stone-free rate was considered at three time points: after the first

procedure, after all consecutive procedures using the primary treatment, and after the

total treatments.

Initially, the Panel divided complications into three broad categories: acute, long-

term, and medical; however, after examining the available evidence, the Panel

determined that this breakdown was not useful. Several factors caused inaccuracy in the

estimates, but did so in opposite directions, thereby reducing the magnitude of

inaccuracy. For example, including studies that did not specifically mention that there

were no occurrences of a specific complication may have led to overestimates of

complication rates when meta-analyzed. By combining similar complications, the Panel

also potentially mitigated the overestimate by making it more likely that a complication

in the class was reported. The probability that a patient will have a complication may

still be overstated slightly because some patients experienced multiple complications.

Since the grouping of complications varies by study, the result of the meta-analysis is

best interpreted as the mean number of complications that a patient may experience rather

than as the probability of having a complication. Moreover, since reporting of

complications is not consistent, the estimated rates given here are probably less accurate

than the CIs would indicate. There were insufficient data to permit meaningful meta-

analyses of patient deaths.

Data analyses were conducted for two age groups. One analysis included studies

of patients ages 18 or younger (or identified as pediatric patients in the article without


specifying age ranges). The adult analysis included all other studies even if children were

included.

After the evidence was combined and outcome tables were produced, the Panel

met to review the results and identify anomalies. From the evidence in the outcome tables

and expert opinion, the Panel drafted the treatment guidelines.

In this guideline the standard, recommendations, and options given were rated

according to the levels of evidence published from the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research:5

Ia. Evidence obtained from meta-analysis of randomized trials

Ib. Evidence obtained from at least one randomized trial

IIa. Evidence obtained from at least one well-designed controlled study

without randomization

IIb. Evidence obtained from at least one other type of well-designed quasi-

experimental study

III. Evidence obtained from well-designed nonexperimental studies, such as

comparative studies, correlation studies, and case reports

IV. Evidence obtained from expert committee reports, or opinions, or clinical

experience of respected authorities

As in the previous AUA guideline, the present statements are graded with respect

to the degree of flexibility in application. Although the terminology has changed slightly,

from the original AUA reports, the current three levels are essentially the same. A

"standard" is the most rigid treatment policy. A "recommendation" has significantly less


rigidity, and an "option" has the largest amount of flexibility. These terms are defined as

follows:

1. Standard: A guideline statement is a standard if: (1) the health outcomes of

the alternative interventions are sufficiently well known to permit meaningful

decisions, and (2) there is virtual unanimity about which intervention is

preferred.

2. Recommendation: A guideline statement is a recommendation if: (1) the

health outcomes of the alternative interventions are sufficiently well known

to permit meaningful decisions, and (2) an appreciable, but not unanimous

majority agrees on which intervention is preferred.

3. Option: A guideline statement is an option if: (1) the health outcomes of the

interventions are not sufficiently well known to permit meaningful decisions,

or (2) preferences are unknown or equivocal.

The draft was sent to 81 peer reviewers of whom 26 provided comments; the

Panel revised the document based on the comments received. The guideline was

submitted first for approval to the Practice Guidelines Committee of the AUA and the

Guidelines Office of the EAU and then forwarded to the AUA Board of Directors and the

EAU Board for final approval.

The guideline is posted on the American Urological Association website,

www.auanet.org, and on the European Association of Urology website,

www.uroweb.org. Chapter 1 will be published in The Journal of Urology and in

European Urology.


Results of the Outcomes Analysis
The results of the analysis described in this chapter provide most of the

evidentiary basis for the guideline statements. Further details and tables corresponding to

the figures in this section are found in Chapter 3 and the Appendixes.

The panel’s attempt to differentiate results for pediatric patients from those for

adults was not completely successful as most studies included both adults and children.

Where possible, the panel performed two analyses, one including all studies regardless of

patient age, and a second including only those studies or groups of patients that were

comprised entirely of pediatric patients.

Observation and Medical Therapies
Stone-passage rates
Only limited data were found on the topic of spontaneous passage by stone size.

For stones ≤5 mm, meta-analysis of five patient groups (224 patients) yielded an estimate

that 68% would pass spontaneously (95% CI: 46% to 85%]. For stones >5 mm and ≤10

mm, analysis of three groups (104 patients) yielded an estimate that 47% would pass

spontaneously (95% CI: 36% to 59%). Details of the meta-analysis are presented in

Appendixes 8 and 9.

Two medical therapies had sufficient analyzable data: the calcium channel

blocker nifedipine and alpha-receptor antagonists. Analyses of stone-passage rates were

done in three ways. The first combined all single arms evaluating the therapies. Using

this approach, meta-analysis of four studies of nifedipine (160 patients) yielded an

estimate of a 75% passage rate (95% CI: 63% to 84%). Six studies examined alpha


blockers (280 patients); the meta-analysis yielded a stone-passage rate of 81% (95% CI:

72% to 88%).

The second method was a standard Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis of the

available RCTs that compared either nifedipine or alpha blockers to control therapies.

The results for nifedipine showed an absolute increase of 9% in stone-passage rates (95%

CI: -7% to 25%), which was not statistically significant. Meta-analysis of alpha blockers

versus control showed an absolute increase of 29% in the stone-passage rate (95% CI:

20% to 37%), which was statistically significant.

The Panel also attempted to determine whether alpha blockers provide superior

stone passage when compared to nifedipine. Two randomized controlled trials were

identified. When hierarchical meta-analysis was performed on these two studies,

tamsulosin provided an absolute increase in stone-passage rate of 14% (95% CI: -4% to

32%) which was not statistically significant. When nonhierarchical methods were used,

the stone-passage improvement increased to 16% (95% CI: 7% to 26%) which was

statistically significant. Finally, the Panel used the results of the meta-analyses versus

controls (second method above) to determine the difference between alpha blockers and

calcium channel blockers. This method allows the use of more data but is risky since it

depends on the control groups having comparable results. The analysis yielded a 20%

improvement in stone-passage rates with alpha blockers, and the 95% CI of 1% to 37%

just reached statistical significance.

Shock-wave Lithotripsy and Ureteroscopy
Stone-free rates were analyzed for a number of variant methods of performing

SWL and URS. The Panel attempted to differentiate between bypass, pushback, and in


situ SWL as well as differences between lithotripters. Most differences were minimal and

did not reach statistical significance. For that reason, the data presented in this Chapter

compare the meta-analysis of all forms of SWL to the meta-analysis of all forms of URS.

The Panel also attempted to differentiate between flexible and rigid ureteroscopes.

Details of the breakdowns by type of SWL and URS are given in Chapter 3. Data were

analyzed for both efficacy and complications. Two efficacy outcomes were analyzed:

stone-free rate and procedure counts. Complications were grouped into classes. The most

important classes are reported herein. The full complication results are in Appendix 10.

Analyses were performed for the following patient groups where data were

available.

1. Proximal stones ≤10 mm

2. Proximal stones >10 mm

3. Proximal stones regardless of size

4. Mid-ureteral stones ≤10 mm

5. Mid-ureteral stones >10 mm

6. Mid-ureteral stones regardless of size

7. Distal stones ≤10 mm

8. Distal stones >10 mm

9. Distal stones regardless of size

Analyses of pediatric groups were attempted for the same nine groups, although

data were lacking for many groups.


Efficacy Outcomes
Stone-free rates
The Panel decided to analyze a single stone-free rate. If the study reported the

stone-free rate after all primary procedures, that number was used. If not and the study

reported the stone-free rate after the first procedure, then that number was used. The

intention of the Panel was to provide an estimate of the number of primary procedures

and the stone-free rate after those procedures. There is a lack of uniformity in the

literature in reporting the time to stone-free status, thereby limiting the ability to

comment on the timing of this parameter.

The results of the meta-analysis of stone-free data are presented for the overall

group in Table 1 and Figure 1. The results are presented as medians of the posterior

distribution (best central estimate) with 95% Bayesian CIs (credible intervals [CIs]).


Table 1. Stone-Free Rates for SWL and URS in the Overall Population


Figure 1. Stone-Free Rates for SWL and URS in the Overall Population

Stone Free Rates after Primary/First Treatment

Distal Ureter - SWL
Distal Ureter - URS
Distal Ureter < 10 mm - SWL
Distal Ureter < 10 mm - URS
Distal Ureter > 10 mm - SWL
Distal Ureter > 10 mm - URS

Mid Ureter - SWL
Mid Ureter - URS
Mid Ureter < 10 mm - SWL
Mid Ureter < 10 mm - URS
Mid Ureter > 10 mm - SWL
Mid Ureter > 10 mm - URS

Proximal Ureter - SWL
Proximal Ureter - URS
Proximal Ureter < 10 mm - SWL
Proximal Ureter < 10 mm - URS
Proximal Ureter > 10 mm - SWL
Proximal Ureter > 10 mm - URS

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Estimated Occurrence Rate with 95% CI
CI=confidence interval


This analysis shows that overall, for stones in the proximal ureter (n=8,670), there

was no difference in stone-free rates between SWL and URS. However, for proximal

ureteral stones <10 mm (n=1,129), SWL had a higher stone-free rate than URS, and for

stones >10 mm (n=523), URS had superior stone-free rates. This difference arises

because the stone-free rate for proximal ureteral stones treated with URS did not vary

significantly with size, whereas the stone-free rate following SWL negatively correlated

with stone size. For all distal stones, URS yields better stone-free rates overall and in

both size categories. For all mid-ureteral stones, URS appears superior, but the small

number of patients may have prevented results from reaching statistical significance.

Unfortunately, RCTs comparing these treatments were generally lacking, making

an accurate assessment impossible. However, the posterior distributions resulting from

the meta-analysis can be subtracted, yielding a distribution for the difference between the

treatments. If the CI of this result does not include zero, then the results may be

considered to be statistically significantly different. This operation is mathematically

justifiable but operationally risky: if the patients receiving different treatments are

different or if outcome measures are different, results may be meaningless. Nonetheless,

the Panel performed the comparison and found that URS stone-free rates were

significantly better than SWL rates for distal ureteral stones ≤10 mm and >10 mm and for

proximal ureteral stones >10 mm. The stone-free rate for mid-ureteral stones was not

statistically significantly different between URS and SWL. The results with URS using a

flexible ureteroscope for proximal ureteral stones appear better than those achieved with

a rigid device, but not at a statistically significant level.


Stone-free results for pediatric patients are shown in Table 2 and Figure 2. The

very small number of patients in most groups, particularly for URS, makes comparisons

among treatments difficult. However, it does appear that SWL may be more effective in

the pediatric subset than in the overall population, particularly in the mid and lower

ureter.


Table 2. Stone-Free Rates for SWL and URS, Pediatric Population


Figure 2. Stone-Free Rates for SWL and URS, Pediatric Population

Stone Free Rates after Primary/First Treatment
Pediatric Patients

Distal Ureter - SWL
Distal Ureter - URS

Mid Ureter - SWL
Mid Ureter - URS


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Estimated Occurrence Rate with 95% CI
CI=confidence interval


Procedure Counts
Procedure counts were captured as three types:

1. Primary procedures – the number of times the intended procedure was

performed.

2. Secondary procedures – the number of times an alternative stone removal

procedure(s) was performed.

3. Adjunctive procedures – additional procedures performed at a time other than

when the primary or secondary procedures were performed; these could

include procedures related to the primary/secondary procedures such as stent

removals as well as procedures performed to deal with complications; most

adjunctive procedures in the data presented represent stent removals. It is

likely that many stent-related adjunctive procedures were underreported, and

thus the adjunctive procedure count may be underestimated.

As mentioned in Chapter 2, it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis or to

test for statistically significant differences between treatments due to the lack of variance

data, and only weighted averages could be computed. The procedure count results for the

overall population are shown in Table 3 and Figure 3. Figure 3 results are presented as

stacked bars.


Table 3. Procedure Counts for SWL and URS in the Overall Population


Figure 3. Procedure Counts for SWL and URS in the Overall Population

Procedures per Patient

Distal Ureter - SWL
Distal Ureter - URS
Distal Ureter > 10 mm - URS

Mid Ureter - SWL
Mid Ureter - URS

Proximal Ureter > 10 mm - URS

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

Weighted Mean Procedures per Patient
Primary Procedures
Secondary Procedures
Adjunctive Procedures

Procedure count results for pediatric patients are shown in Table 4 and Figure 4.

Again, the numbers of patients with available data were small and did not support

meaningful comparisons among treatments.


Table 4. Procedure Counts for SWL and URS in the Pediatric Population, All Locations


Figure 4. Procedure Counts for SWL and URS in the Pediatric Population, All
Locations

Procedures per Patient - Pediatric Patients

Distal Ureter - SWL
Distal Ureter - URS

Mid Ureter - SWL
Mid Ureter - URS


0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5

Weighted Mean Procedures per Patient
Primary Procedures
Secondary Procedures
Adjunctive Procedures


Complications
The articles were extracted for various complications; however, the Panel believes

the following are the most relevant:

1. Sepsis

2. Steinstrasse

3. Stricture

4. Ureteral injury

5. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Serious complications, including death and loss of kidney, were sufficiently rare that data

were not available to estimate their rates of occurrence. Other complications are listed in

Chapter 3.

The complication rates for the overall population by treatment, size, and location

are shown in Table 5.


Table 5. Complications Occurrence Rates with SWL and URS, Overall Population

SWL URS
Groups/Patients Med/95% CI Groups/Patients Med/95% CI
Distal Ureter
Sepsis 6 3% 7 2%
2019 (2 - 5)% 1954 (1 - 4)%

Steinstrasse 1 4%
26 (0 - 17)%

Stricture 2 0% 16 1%
609 (0 - 1)% 1911 (1 - 2)%

Ureteral Injury 1 1% 23 3%
45 (0 - 5)% 4529 (3 - 4)%

UTI 3 4% 3 4%
87 (1 - 12)% 458 (2 - 7)%
Mid Ureter
Sepsis 2 5% 4 4%
398 (0 - 20)% 199 (1 - 11)%

Steinstrasse 1 8%
37 (2 - 20)%

Stricture 1 1% 7 4%
43 (0 - 6)% 326 (2 - 7)%

Ureteral Injury 10 6%
514 (3 - 8)%

UTI 1 6% 1 2%
37 (1 - 16)% 63 (0 - 7)%
Proximal Ureter
Sepsis 5 3% 8 4%
704 (2 - 4)% 360 (2 - 6)%

Steinstrasse 3 5% 1 0%
235 (2 - 10)% 109 (0 - 2)%

Stricture 2 2% 8 2%
124 (0 - 8)% 987 (1 - 5)%

Ureteral Injury 2 2% 10 6%
124 (0 - 8)% 1005 (3 - 9)%

UTI 5 4% 2 4%
360 (2 - 7)% 224 (1 - 8)%


Table 6 summarizes complications for all pediatric groups. Since there are few

groups and patients, it was not possible to stratify data by stone size or location. The

reported frequencies of pain may be inaccurate because of inconsistent reporting.

Table 6. Complication Occurrence Rates - Overall, Pediatric Population

G = number of groups/treatment arms extracted; P = number of patients in those groups.


Other Surgical Interventions
Small numbers of studies reported on open surgery, laparoscopic stone removal,

and percutaneous antegrade ureteroscopy. Because these procedures are usually reserved

for special cases, the reported data should not be used to compare procedures with each

other or with SWL or URS. As expected, these more invasive procedures yielded high

stone-free rates when used.

A single pediatric report provided procedure counts for two patients who had one

open procedure each. Two studies reported stone-free rates for children with open

procedures (n=five patients); the computed stone-free rate was 82% (95% CI: 43% to

99%).

The Index Patient
In constructing these guidelines, an “index patient” was defined to reflect the

typical individual with a ureteral stone whom a urologist treats. The following definition

was created.

The index patient is a nonpregnant adult with a unilateral

noncystine/nonuric acid radiopaque ureteral stone without renal calculi

requiring therapy whose contralateral kidney functions normally and whose

medical condition, body habitus, and anatomy allow any one of the treatment

options to be undertaken.


Treatment Guidelines for the Index Patient
For All Index Patients
Standard: Patients with bacteriuria should be treated with appropriate

antibiotics.

[Based on Panel consensus/Level IV]

Untreated bacteriuria can lead to infectious complications and possible urosepsis

if combined with urinary tract obstruction, endourologic manipulation, or SWL. Urine

culture prior to intervention is recommended; screening with dipsticks might be sufficient

in uncomplicated cases.2 In case of suspected or proven infection, appropriate antibiotic

therapy should be administered before intervention.6

Standard: Stone extraction with a basket without endoscopic visualization of

the stone (blind basketing) should not be performed.


Before the availability of modern ureteroscopes, extraction of distal ureteral

stones with a basket with or without fluoroscopy was common. This procedure is,

however, associated with an obvious risk of injury to the ureter. It is the expert opinion of

the Panel that blind stone extraction with a basket should not be performed, and that

intraureteral manipulations with a stone basket should always be performed under direct

ureteroscopic vision. Fluoroscopic imaging of the stone alone is not sufficient.

For Ureteral Stones <10 mm
Option: In a patient who has a newly diagnosed ureteral stone <10 mm and

whose symptoms are controlled, observation with periodic evaluation is an


option for initial treatment. Such patients may be offered an appropriate

medical therapy to facilitate stone passage during the observation period.

[Based on review of the data and panel opinion/Level 1A]

The Panel performed a meta-analysis of studies in which spontaneous ureteral

stone passage was assessed. The median probability of stone passage was 68% for stones

≤5 mm (n=224) and 47% for those >5 and ≤10 mm (n=104) in size (details previously

discussed and provided in the appendixes). The Panel recognized that these studies had

certain limitations including nonstandardization of the stone size measurement methods

and lack of analysis of stone position, stone-passage history, and time to stone passage in

some. A meta-analysis of MET was also performed which demonstrated that alpha

blockers facilitate stone passage and that the positive impact of nifedipine is marginal.

This analysis also indicates that alpha blockers are superior to nifedipine and, hence, may

be the preferred agents for MET (details provided in the Appendixes). A similar benefit

of MET was demonstrated in a recently published meta-analytic study.7 The methods of

analysis used in this study were somewhat different as the absolute improvement in stone

passage was calculated in our study and the relative improvement in the latter. The vast

majority of the trials analyzed in this and our analysis were limited to patients with distal

ureteral stones. The majority of stones pass spontaneously within four to six weeks. This

was demonstrated by Miller and Kane8, who reported that of stones ≤2 mm, 2 to 4 mm

and 4 to 6 mm in size, 95% of those which passed did so by 31, 40, and 39 days,

respectively. In a choice between active stone removal and conservative treatment with

MET, it is important to take into account all individual circumstances that may affect

treatment decisions. A prerequisite for MET is that the patient is reasonably comfortable


with that therapeutic approach and that there is no obvious advantage of immediate active

stone removal.

Standard: Patients should be counseled on the attendant risks of MET

including associated drug side effects and should be informed that it is

administered for an “off label” use.


Standard: Patients who elect for an attempt at spontaneous passage or MET

should have well-controlled pain, no clinical evidence of sepsis, and adequate

renal functional reserve.


Standard: Patients should be followed with periodic imaging studies to

monitor stone position and to assess for hydronephrosis.


Standard: Stone removal is indicated in the presence of persistent

obstruction, failure of stone progression, or in the presence of increasing or

unremitting colic.


For Ureteral Stones >10 mm
Although patients with ureteral stones >10 mm could be observed or treated with

MET, in most cases such stones will require surgical treatment. No recommendation can

be made for spontaneous passage (with or without medical therapy) for patients with

large stones.


For Patients Requiring Stone Removal
Standard: A patient must be informed about the existing active treatment

modalities, including the relative benefits and risks associated with each

modality.


Specifically, both SWL and URS should be discussed as initial treatment options

for the majority of cases. Regardless of the availability of this equipment and physician

experience, this discussion should include stone-free rates, anesthesia requirements, need

for additional procedures, and associated complications. Patients should be informed that

URS is associated with a better chance of becoming stone free with a single procedure,

but has higher complication rates.

Recommendation: For patients requiring stone removal, both SWL and URS

are acceptable first-line treatments.

[Based on review of the data and Panel consensus/Level 1A-IV (details

provided in Chapter 3)]

The meta-analysis demonstrated that URS yields significantly greater stone-free

rates for the majority of stone stratifications.

Recommendation: Routine stenting is not recommended as part of SWL.

[Based on Panel consensus/Level III]

The 1997 AUA guideline, Report on the Management of Ureteral Calculi, stated

that “Routine stenting is not recommended as part of SWL.”9 The 1997 guideline Panel

noted that it had become common practice to place a ureteral stent for more efficient

fragmentation of ureteral stones when using SWL. However, the data analyzed showed


no improved fragmentation with stenting.9 The current analysis demonstrates similar

findings. In addition, studies assessing the efficacy of SWL treatment with or without

internal stent placement have consistently noted frequent symptoms related to stents.10-13

Option: Stenting following uncomplicated URS is optional.

[Based on Panel consensus/Level 1A]

Several randomized prospective studies published since the 1997 AUA guideline

document have demonstrated that routine stenting after uncomplicated URS may not be

necessary.10, 14-19 It is well documented that ureteral stenting is associated with

bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms and pain that can, albeit temporarily, alter

quality of life.15-17, 20-26 In addition, there are complications associated with ureteral

stenting, including stent migration, urinary tract infection, breakage, encrustation, and

obstruction. Moreover, ureteral stents add some expense to the overall ureteroscopic

procedure and unless a pull string is attached to the distal end of the stent, secondary

cystoscopy is required for stent removal.27

There are clear indications for stenting after the completion of URS. These

include ureteral injury, stricture, solitary kidney, renal insufficiency, or a large residual

stone burden.

Option: Percutaneous antegrade ureteroscopy is an acceptable first-line

treatment in select cases.


Instead of a retrograde endoscopic approach to the ureteral stone, percutaneous

antegrade access can be substituted.28 This treatment option is indicated:

• in select cases with large impacted stones in the upper ureter


• in combination with renal stone removal

• in cases of ureteral stones after urinary diversion29

• in select cases resulting from failure of retrograde ureteral access to large,

impacted upper ureteral stones.30

Option: Laparoscopic or open surgical stone removal may be considered in

rare cases where SWL, URS, and percutaneous URS fail or are unlikely to be

successful.


The 1997 AUA guideline stated that “Open surgery should not be the first-line

treatment.”9 The invasiveness and morbidity of open surgery can be avoided. In very

difficult situations, however, such as with very large, impacted stones and/or multiple

ureteral stones, or in cases of concurrent conditions requiring surgery, an alternative

procedure might be desired as primary or salvage therapy. Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy

is a less invasive alternative to open surgery in this setting. Comparative series indicate

that open surgical ureterolithotomy can be replaced by laparoscopic ureterolithotomy in

most situations.31, 32 From the 15 case series of laparoscopic ureterolithotomy included in

the Panel’s literature review, the median stone-free rate was 88% for the primary

treatment. It is notable that this success was achieved when virtually all of the procedures

were for large and/or impacted calculi.

Recommendations for the Pediatric Patient
Option: Both SWL and URS are effective in this population. Treatment

choices should be based on the child’s size and urinary tract anatomy. The


small size of the pediatric ureter and urethra favors the less invasive

approach of SWL.

[Based on review of data and Panel consensus/Level III]

Recommendations for the Nonindex Patient
Standard: For septic patients with obstructing stones, urgent decompression

of the collecting system with either percutaneous drainage or ureteral

stenting is indicated. Definitive treatment of the stone should be delayed until

sepsis is resolved.


The compromised delivery of antibiotics into the obstructed kidney mandates that

the collecting system be drained to promote resolution of the infection. The choice of

drainage modality, whether percutaneous nephrostomy or ureteral stent, is left to the

discretion of the urologist, as both have been shown in a randomized trial to be equally

effective in the setting of presumed obstructive pyelonephritis/pyonephrosis.33 Definitive

treatment of the stone should be delayed until sepsis has resolved and the infection is

cleared following a complete course of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Discussion
There are two significant changes in treatment approach that distinguish the

present document from the guideline published by the AUA in 1997. The most

significant change is the use of retrograde URS as first-line treatment for middle and

upper ureteral stones with a low probability of spontaneous passage. This change reflects


both the vast technological improvements that have been made during the last decade and

the experience and facility that surgeons now have with the procedure. The other change

is the establishment of effective MET to facilitate spontaneous stone passage. These

advances, the current status of other technologies and procedures, issues related to

nonindex patients, and future directions and research germane to this condition will be

subsequently discussed.

Medical Expulsive Therapy
There is growing evidence that MET, the administration of drugs to facilitate

stone passage, can be efficacious. Studies have demonstrated that this approach may

facilitate and accelerate the spontaneous passage of ureteral stones as well as stone

fragments generated with SWL.34-38 Our meta-analysis demonstrated the effectiveness of

MET. Nine percent (CI: -7% to 25%) more patients receiving nifedipine passed their

stones than did controls in our meta-analysis, a difference that was not statistically

significant. In contrast, a statistically significant 29% (CI: 20% to 37%) more patients

passed their stones with alpha blocker therapy than did control patients. These findings

indicate that alpha blockers facilitate ureteral stone passage while nifedipine may provide

a marginal benefit. Therefore, the Panel feels that alpha blockers are the preferred agents

for MET at this time. Similar findings have been reported by Hollingsworth and

associates7, who recently performed a meta-analysis of studies involving alpha blockers

or nifedipine in patients with ureteral stones. The differences in methodology from our

study have been previously mentioned. Patients given either one of these agents had a

greater likelihood of stone passage than those not receiving such therapy. The pooled-risk

ratios and 95% CIs for alpha blockers and calcium channel blockers were 1.54 (1.29 to


1.85) and 1.90 (1.51 to 2.40).7 The benefit of adding corticosteroids was reported to be

small.7, 37 Tamsulosin has been the most common alpha blocker utilized in these studies.

However, one small study demonstrated tamsulosin, terazosin, and doxazosin as equally

effective in this setting.39 These studies also demonstrated that MET reduces the stone-

passage time and limits pain. The beneficial effects of these drugs are likely attributed to

ureteral smooth muscle relaxation mediated through either inhibition of calcium channel

pumps or alpha-1 receptor blockade. Further prospective and randomized studies are

warranted to determine the patients who best respond to MET. A large, multicenter,

randomized, placebo-controlled study has recently been funded in the United States for

this purpose. Patients with ureteral stones in all segments of the ureter will be randomized

to tamsulosin or placebo.

Shock-wave Lithotripsy
Shock-wave lithotripsy was introduced to clinical practice as a treatment for

ureteral stones in the early 1980s. Today, even with the refinement of endourologic

methods for stone removal such as URS and PNL, SWL remains the primary treatment

for most uncomplicated upper urinary tract calculi. The meta-analysis published by the

AUA Nephrolithiasis Guideline Panel in 1997 documented that the stone-free rate for

SWL for proximal ureteral stones overall was 83% (78 studies, 17,742 patients). To

achieve this result, 1.40 procedures were necessary per patient. The results were very

similar in the distal ureter, with a stone-free rate of 85% (66 studies, 9,422 patients)

necessitating 1.29 primary and secondary procedures per patient. There was no

significant difference between various SWL techniques (SWL with pushback, SWL with


stent or catheter bypass, or SWL in situ). Consequently, the Panel suggested that the use

of a ureteral stent to improve stone-free rates was not warranted. This observation is also

confirmed by the present analysis. However, there may be circumstances such as when

the stone is small or of low radiographic density where a stent or ureteral catheter

(sometimes using a contrast agent) may help facilitate localization during SWL. The

Panel considered complications of SWL for ureteral stones to be infrequent.

The current meta-analysis analyzed SWL stone-free results for three locations in

the ureter (proximal, mid, distal). The SWL stone-free results are 82% in the proximal

ureter (41 studies, 6,428 patients), 73% in the mid ureter (31 studies, 1,607 patients), and

74% in the distal ureter (50 studies, 6,981 patients). The results in the 1997 guideline,

which divided the ureter into proximal and distal only, reported SWL stone-free results of

83% and 85%, respectively. The CIs for the distal ureter do not overlap and indicate a

statistically significant worsening of results in the distal ureter from the earlier results. No

change is shown for the proximal ureter. The cause of this difference is not clear.

Additional procedures also were infrequently necessary (0.62 procedures per patient for

proximal ureteral stones, 0.52 for mid-ureteral stones, and 0.37 for distal ureteral stones).

Serious complications were again infrequent. As expected, stone-free rates were lower

and the number of procedures necessary were higher for ureteral stones >10 mm in

diameter managed with SWL.

The outcomes for SWL for ureteral calculi in pediatric patients were similar to

those for adults, making this a useful option, particularly in patients where the size of the

patient (and ureter/urethra) may make URS a less attractive option.


The newer generation lithotriptors with higher peak pressures and smaller focal

zones should, in theory, be ideal for the treatment of stones in the ureter but instead have

not been associated with an improvement in stone-free rates or a reduction in the number

of procedures needed when this treatment approach is chosen. In fact, the SWL stone-free

rates for stones in the distal ureter have declined significantly when compared with the

1997 AUA analysis. The explanation for the lack of improvement in SWL outcomes is

unknown.

Although ureteroscopic stone removal is possible with intravenous sedation, one

clear advantage of SWL over URS is that the procedure is more easily and routinely

performed with intravenous sedation or other minimal anesthetic techniques. Therefore,

for the patient who desires treatment with minimal anesthesia, SWL is an attractive

approach.

Shock-wave lithotripsy can be performed with the aid of either fluoroscopy or

ultrasound (US). While some stones in the proximal and distal ureter can be imaged with

US, this imaging modality clearly limits SWL application in the ureter when compared to

fluoroscopy. However, a combination of both fluoroscopy and US can facilitate stone

location and minimize radiation exposure.

As documented in the 1997 AUA report, there appears to be little, if any,

advantage to routine stenting when performing SWL for ureteral stones.

Concerns have been raised, too, regarding the use of SWL to treat distal ureteral

calculi in women of childbearing age because of the theoretical possibility that

unfertilized eggs and/or ovaries may be damaged. To date, no objective evidence has

been discovered to support such concerns, but many centers require that women age 40 or


younger be fully informed of the possibility and give their consent before treatment with

SWL.40-44

Ureteroscopy
Ureteroscopy has traditionally constituted the favored approach for the surgical

treatment of mid and distal ureteral stones while SWL has been preferred for the less

accessible proximal ureteral stones. With the development of smaller caliber semirigid

and flexible ureteroscopes and the introduction of improved instrumentation, including

the holmium:YAG laser, URS has evolved into a safer and more efficacious modality for

treatment of stones in all locations in the ureter with increasing experience world-

wide.45, 46 Complication rates, most notably ureteral perforation rates, have been reduced

to less than 5%, and long-term complications such as stricture formation occur with an

incidence of 2% or less.47 Overall stone-free rates are remarkably high at 81% to 94%

depending on stone location, with the vast majority of patients rendered stone free in a

single procedure (Figure 1 and Chapter 3).

In 1997, the AUA Nephrolithiasis Clinical Guideline Panel recommended SWL

for <1 cm stones in the proximal ureter and either SWL or URS for >1 cm proximal

ureteral stones.9 With improved efficacy and reduced morbidity currently associated with

ureteroscopic management of proximal ureteral stones, this modality is now deemed

appropriate for stones of any size in the proximal ureter. Indeed, the current analysis

revealed a stone-free rate of 81% for ureteroscopic treatment of proximal ureteral stones,

with surprisingly little difference in stone-free rates according to stone size (93% for

stones <10 mm and 87% for stones >10 mm). The flexible ureteroscope is largely


responsible for improved access to the proximal ureter; superior stone-free rates are

achieved using flexible URS (87%) compared with rigid or semirigid URS (77%). These

stone-free rates are comparable to those achieved with SWL.

The middle ureter poses challenges for all surgical stone treatments; the location

over the iliac vessels may hinder access with a semirigid ureteroscope, and identification

and targeting of mid-ureteral stones for SWL has proved problematic due to the

underlying bone. Despite the limitations, ureteroscopic management is still highly

successful; a stone-free rate of 86% was demonstrated in the current analysis, although

success rates declined substantially when treating larger stones (>10 mm) compared with

smaller stones (78% versus 91%, respectively).

Ureteroscopic treatment of distal ureteral stones is uniformly associated with high

success rates and low complication rates. An overall stone-free rate of 94% was achieved

with either a rigid or semirigid ureteroscope, with little drop off in stone-free rates when

treating larger stones. On the other hand, flexible URS was less successful than rigid or

semirigid URS for distal ureteral stones, particularly those >10 mm, likely due to

difficulty maintaining access within the distal ureter with a flexible ureteroscope.

A number of adjunctive measures have contributed to the enhanced success of

ureteroscopic management of ureteral calculi. Historically, stones in the proximal ureter

have been associated with lower success rates than those in the mid and distal ureter, in

part because the proximal ureter is more difficult to access and stone fragments often

become displaced into the kidney where they may be difficult to treat. Improved flexible

ureteroscopes and greater technical skill, along with the introduction of devices to


prevent stone migration48, 49 have improved the success of treating proximal ureteral

stones.

Although the efficacy of URS for the treatment of ureteral calculi has been amply

shown, the need for a ureteral stent with its attendant morbidity has biased opinion

towards SWL in some cases. Clearly, SWL is associated with fewer postoperative

symptoms and better patient acceptance than URS. However, a number of recent

prospective, randomized trials have shown that for uncomplicated URS, the ureter may

be left unstented without undue risk of obstruction or colic requiring emergent medical

attention.10, 14-19

Ureteroscopy can also be applied when SWL might be contraindicated or ill-

advised. Ureteroscopy can be performed safely in select patients in whom cessation of

anticoagulants is considered unsafe.50 In addition, URS has been shown to be effective

regardless of patient body habitus. Several studies have shown that morbidly obese

patients can be treated with success rates and complication rates comparable to the

general population.51, 52 Finally, URS can be used to safely simultaneously treat bilateral

ureteral stones in select cases.53-55

Percutaneous Antegrade Ureteroscopy
Percutaneous antegrade removal of ureteral stones is a consideration in selected

cases, for example, for the treatment of very large (>15 mm diameter) impacted stones in

the proximal ureter between the ureteropelvic junction and the lower border of the fourth

lumbar vertebra.30, 56 In these cases with stone-free rates between 85% and 100%, its

superiority to standard techniques has been evaluated in one prospective randomized57

and in two prospective studies.28, 30 In a total number of 204 patients, the complication


rate was low, acceptable, and not specifically different from any other percutaneous

procedure.

Percutaneous antegrade removal of ureteral stones is an alternative when SWL is

not indicated or has failed58 and when the upper urinary tract is not amenable to

retrograde URS; for example, in those with urinary diversion29 or renal transplants.59

Laparoscopic and Open Stone Surgery
Shock-wave lithotripsy, URS, and percutaneous antegrade URS can achieve

success for the vast majority of stone cases. In extreme situations or in cases of

simultaneous open surgery for another purpose, open surgical ureterolithotomy might

rarely be considered.60, 61 For most cases with very large, impacted, and/or multiple

ureteral stones in which SWL and URS have either failed or are unlikely to succeed,

laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is a better alternative than open surgery if expertise in

laparoscopic techniques is available. Both retroperitoneal and transperitoneal

laparoscopic access to all portions of the ureter have been reported. Laparoscopic

ureterolithotomy in the distal ureter is somewhat less successful than in the middle and

proximal ureter, but the size of the stone does not appear to influence outcome.

Although highly effective, laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is not a first-line therapy

in most cases because of its invasiveness, attendant longer recovery time, and the greater

risk of associated complications compared to SWL and URS.


Special Considerations
Pregnancy

Renal colic is the most common nonobstetric cause of abdominal pain in pregnant

patients requiring hospitalization. The evaluation of pregnant patients suspected of

having renal colic begins with ultrasonography, as ionizing radiation should be limited in

this setting. If the US examination is unrevealing and the patient remains severely

symptomatic, a limited intravenous pyelogram may be considered. A typical regimen

includes a preliminary plain radiograph (KUB) and two films, 15 minutes and 60 minutes

following contrast administration. Noncontrast computed tomography is uncommonly

performed in this setting because of the higher dose of radiation exposure. Magnetic

resonance imaging can define the level of obstruction, and a stone may be seen as a

filling defect. However, these findings are nonspecific. In addition, there is a paucity of

experience with using this imaging modality during pregnancy.62

Once the diagnosis has been established, these patients have traditionally been

managed with temporizing therapies (ureteral stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy), an

approach often associated with poor patient tolerance. Further, the temporizing approach

typically requires multiple exchanges of stents or nephrostomy tubes during the

remainder of the patient's pregnancy due to the potential for rapid encrustation of these

devices.

A number of groups have now reported successful outcomes with URS in

pregnant patients harboring ureteral stones. The first substantial report was by Ulvik,

et al63 who reported on the performance of URS in 24 pregnant women. Most patients had

stones or edema, and there were no adverse sequelae associated with ureteroscopic stone


removal. Similar results have been reported by Lifshitz and Lingeman64 and Watterson et

al65 who found that the ureteroscopic approach was both diagnostic and therapeutic in

pregnant patients with very low morbidity and the need for only short-term ureteral

stenting, if at all, afterwards. When intracorporeal lithotripsy is necessary during

ureteroscopic treatment of calculi in pregnant patients, the holmium laser has the

advantage of minimal tissue penetration, thereby theoretically limiting risk of fetal injury.

Pediatrics

Both SWL and URS are effective treatment alternatives for stone removal in

children. Selection of the most appropriate treatment has to be based on the individual

stone problem, the available equipment and the urologist’s expertise in treating children.

Children appear to pass stone fragments after SWL more readily than adults.66-71

Ureteroscopy may be used as a primary treatment or as a secondary treatment

after SWL in case of poor stone disintegration. Less efficient SWL disintegration might

be seen in children with stones composed of cystine, brushite and calcium oxalate

monohydrate or when anatomic abnormalities result in difficulties in fluoroscopic or

ultrasonographic visualization of the stone.72-74

One of the main problems with pediatric URS is the size of the ureteroscope

relative to the narrow intramural ureter and the urethral diameter. This problem has lately

been circumvented by the use of smaller ureteroscopes, for example, mini or needle

instruments as well as small flexible semirigid or rigid ureteroscopes and pediatric (6.9

Fr) cystoscopes. With the availability of 4.5 and 6.0 Fr semirigid ureteroscopes, a 5.3 Fr

flexible ureteroscope and a holmium:YAG laser energy source, instrument-related

complications have become uncommon.73-75 However, the utilization of proper technique


remains the most important factor for generating successful outcomes in this population.

Percutaneous stone removal is also possible in pediatric patients with comparable

indications to those in adults. Such an approach might be considered for stone removal in

children with a malformation of the lower urinary tract.

Cystine Stones

Individuals with cystinuria are considered nonindex patients by the Panel for a

variety of reasons. There are limited data regarding treatment outcomes in this group.76-83

In vitro studies also show that these stones are commonly resistant to SWL, although the

degree of resistance may be variable.77, 78 The structural characteristics of these stones are

thought to contribute to their decreased SWL fragility. In addition, some of these stones

may be barely opaque on standard imaging or fluoroscopy, potentially compromising

shock-wave focusing. In contrast to SWL, technology currently utilized for intracorporeal

lithotripsy during URS, including the holmium laser, ultrasonic and pneumatic devices,

can readily fragment cystine stones.81

Certain imaging characteristics may predict SWL outcomes for this patient group.

Bhatta and colleagues reported that cystine stones having a rough-appearing external

surface on plain film imaging were more apt to be fragmented with shock-wave energy

than those with a smooth contour.82 Kim and associates reported that the computed

tomography attenuation coefficients of the latter were significantly higher than the rough-

type stones.83 Other types of stones with higher attenuation values have also been

demonstrated to be resistant to shock-wave fragmentation.84

Patients with this rare genetic disorder typically have their first stone event early

in life, are prone to recurrent stones, and are consequently subject to repetitive removal


procedures. In addition, patients with cystinuria are at risk for developing renal

insufficiency over time.85, 86 Prophylactic medical therapy and close follow-up can limit

recurrence.

Uric acid Stones

Uric acid calculi are typically radiolucent, thus limiting the ability to treat such

patients using in situ SWL. However, this approach may be possible with devices that use

US if the stone can indeed be localized. When properly targeted, these stones fragment

readily with SWL. Uric acid stones have lower computed tomography attenuation values,

and can usually can be distinguished from calcium, cystine, and struvite calculi.87 The

presence of a low attenuation or a radiolucent stone, particularly in a patient with a low

urinary pH, should lead the clinician to suspect this diagnosis. Manipulation of the

urinary pH with oral potassium citrate, sodium citrate, or sodium bicarbonate to a level

ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 may obviate the need for surgical intervention. Moreover, this

medical treatment may allow stone dissolution in patients whose symptoms are

controllable, should prevent the development of future uric acid stones, and has also been

shown to enhance stone clearance with SWL.88 Medical expulsive therapy may be

administered concomitantly. Ureteroscopy is a very effective method of treating patients

who are not candidates for observation.89

Research and Future Directions
Ten years have elapsed since the last publication of the AUA guidelines, and one

year since the EAU recommendations on ureteral stones. Extensive cooperation between

AUA and EAU Panel members has produced this unique collaborative report. This


venture should provide the foundation for future collaborative efforts in guideline

development.

The Panel encountered a number of deficits in the literature. While the

management of ureteral stones remains commonly needed, few RCTs were available for

data extraction. The data were inconsistent, starting from the definition of stone sizes and

ending with variable definitions of a stone-free state. These limitations hinder the

development of evidence-based recommendations.

To improve the quality of research, the Panel strongly recommends the following:

• conducting RCTs comparing interventional techniques like URS and SWL

• conducting pharmacological studies of stone-expulsion therapies as double-

blinded RCTs

• reporting stone-free data without inclusion of residual fragments

• using consistent nomenclature to report stone size, stone location, stone-free

rates, time point when stone-free rate is determined, or method of imaging to

determine stone-free rate

• reporting data stratified by patient/stone characteristics, such as patient age,

stone size, stone location, stone composition, gender, body mass index, and

treatment modality

• reporting all associated treatments including placement of ureteral stents or

nephrostomies

• using standardized methods to report acute and long-term outcomes

• developing methods to predict outcomes for SWL, URS, and MET


• providing measures of variability such as standard deviation, standard error,

CI, or variance with corresponding average patient numbers

• reporting raw data to facilitate meta-analyses

The Panel suggests focusing on the following issues in future investigations:

• investigating the proposed current efficacy problems of second and third

generation shock-wave machines and developing approaches to improve SWL

• determining the safety of each technique with respect to acute and long-term

effects

• investigating the promising medical stone expulsion in basic research studies

and in clinical trials to unravel the underlying mechanisms and to optimize the

treatment regimens

• addressing issues such as patient preferences, quality of life, and time until the

patient completed therapy when evaluating treatment strategies. To date, only

a few studies have addressed patient preference.90-92

• although largely dependent on different health systems, addressing cost-

effectiveness


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